hernan diaz is so good. i recently wrote a long essay here about trust as well as the moneychangers, a book by upton sinclair that certainly inspired hernan diaz (confirmed by a lithub interview he did that i found after finishing both books and being like huh these are veryyy similar). it’s really short and is explicitly about a railroad speculation scheme that goes awry, based very explicitly on a similar scheme that went awry and caused the panic of 1907. so anyway i’d totally recommend reading the moneychangers.
of course!! i considered the octopus but ended up going with mcteague instead, which i ended up regretting because apart from like seven beautiful paragraphs i mostly didn’t like it at all.
Did you go to the BMC residency?! If so, a great book to read out near the big lake is Fire on the Mountain by Terry Bisson
not yet but i’ll be there in two weeks! also PERFECT rec thank you
hernan diaz is so good. i recently wrote a long essay here about trust as well as the moneychangers, a book by upton sinclair that certainly inspired hernan diaz (confirmed by a lithub interview he did that i found after finishing both books and being like huh these are veryyy similar). it’s really short and is explicitly about a railroad speculation scheme that goes awry, based very explicitly on a similar scheme that went awry and caused the panic of 1907. so anyway i’d totally recommend reading the moneychangers.
omg hell yes thank you!! i had the octopus on my list but not the moneychangers. going to check out your essay too!
of course!! i considered the octopus but ended up going with mcteague instead, which i ended up regretting because apart from like seven beautiful paragraphs i mostly didn’t like it at all.
A great plains-related story collection I enjoyed: A Gravestone Made of Wheat and Other Stories, by Will Weaver.
thank you!!! i'll add to my list
You betcha! Your future book sounds so interesting so I look forward to it coming out!